Sweet Seduction Shield(23)

"Because it's the safest place for you right now."

"How can it be?" I hissed in demand. "With one of McLaren's people here too!"

He took a step backwards on those words, then immediately was up in my face. His hands gripping my upper arms and his hot breath washing against my lips, as he lowered his head down enough to look me in the eyes. His were deadly serious.

"Listen up," he said quietly. "Abi escaped him. Then brought him down in the end. Ben almost died at the time. Her father risked his life to get evidence against the whole organisation. It was enough to arrest the piece of shit and hopefully put him away for the rest of his life. Abi is not McLaren's, nor has she ever been."

A soft clearing of a throat sounded out behind us. Pierce didn't back up, but turned us slightly so we could see Abi at the door, her hand on Daisy's shoulder. Daisy's eyes were big and wide, but otherwise she looked OK. Holding it together. Abi's were misted, as though she was the one about to burst into tears.

I sucked in a shaky breath and said, "I need to sit down."

"Maybe this was a mistake," Abi said quietly, directing her words to Pierce.

"I disagree," Pierce replied, as he helped me to the side of the bed. I immediately reached out a hand for Daisy, when he stepped back giving me space to move.

Daisy ran across the small room and threw herself into my arms. I pulled her close, buried my nose in her soft hair and inhaled deeply. Feeling centred for the first time in days. My hand started smoothing down her brunette pigtails, realising belatedly that she was still in her paint splattered borrowed t-shirt and the paint had now transferred to my blouse. I didn't release her.

"Marie," Pierce started, but I held up my free hand to stop him. I was done discussing these things in front my child and she needed reassurance now from me.

"Please just give Daisy and I a few moments alone. Whatever you have to say can wait." Confidence brimmed in each word. Confidence I didn't feel, but welcomed.

"Fair enough," Pierce said softly and turned to walk out the door. He stopped on the threshold. "But I'll be just down the hallway, I'm not going anywhere."

There was something about his tone that made me believe he wasn't saying that as a cop. I didn't look at him as he left, choosing instead to keep my eyes on Abi. She was shuffling her feet again, looking nervous. I felt a little bad that she had to experience that emotion in her own home.

"We'll need to talk too," I announced, still calling on my customary confidence. She nodded. "I don't suppose you have a change of clothes for me?" I asked. "After I've settled Daisy, I wouldn't mind cleaning up. I've been in this for two days and now I have penguin paint all over me."

Daisy giggled, the exact response I was going for, but the relief on Abi's face at my teasing words was not expected.

"Sure," she said and turned to leave the room.

Before she made it to the door, I said softly, "Thanks, Abi."

She glanced over her shoulder and smiled, it was a cautious smile, but better than the threat of tears I'd seen earlier.

"No worries," she murmured and then I was alone with my girl.

I hugged her. Held her. Rocked her. And then started singing her favourite lullaby: Daisy Bell.

"Daisy, Daisy. Give me your answer, do. I'm half crazy all for the love of you..."

She tightened her grip around my body when the tune ended and we just sat there, for a good long while, in silence.

Finally, I murmured, "This has been one big adventure, huh Daisy-girl?"

She nodded, but didn't say anything, which started to alarm me slightly. Daisy was a very vocal five year old. I'd never had a conversation with her where she'd had so little to say.

"How's your painting going? Get a penguin finished yet?" I asked, trying to engage her.

She shook her head from side to side, but didn't utter a sound.

"Daisy," I whispered, pulling back to get a look at her face. But she ducked down and tried to keep her cheek plastered to my chest. I had to use a thumb and forefinger on her chin to gently tip her head up. "Sweetheart, what's wrong?"

"I want to go home," she whispered, eyes big and wet, bottom lip trembling.

Oh, for the love of all mothers everywhere. What was I doing to my girl? Tears, too many to hide, fell over the side of my eyelashes and splashed onto my cheeks. She sniffed. I sniffed. And then we started sobbing silently as we clutched each other, clung to each other.

Seeing my baby hurting, scared enough to crave our two bedroom flat over a house with walls to paint, cut deeper than anything I'd ever witnessed before in my life. Including that night.

I had thought my life was over when I watched Rick die. I'd thought I was surely next on the drug lord's hit-list. But that type of fear and pain had nothing on what I felt in this instance. Uncertain of the future. Petrified of the danger that existed for my child. Bereft of confidence. Lost.